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3 East 51st. Street,
New York, New York.
March 13th., 1939.

Dear César:

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BOSTON LEWISOHN:
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A few days ago I sent you my fiche about Constable's visit, to which there is nothing to add. Thinking it over carefully, I realized that our only change to do something was to contact Paul J. Sachs. After having tried to contact him in Boston he wired me that he would gladly come in to see me, which he did last Friday.

My idea frankly, was to have him sufficiently enthusiastic to create a movement in favor of this painting, with McIlhenny or the Philadelphia museum.

Well, in fact he was so enthusiastic that though I naturally immediately posted him about Constable's visit, he said that he would do everything in his power to have the Boston Museum acquire it. In view of that there was nothing else I could ask of him. I posted him about the price which I have been quoted and told him that we would sell it on a commission basis and that we would do our level best, if and when and as the time came.

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MRS. STONBOROUGH
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from Vienna - You can imagine how interested I am in what you write. How on earth did you discover this collection?

Reading your list over of what she owns I must tell you that frankly I am NOT of the opinion of buying the Matisse; the Picasso or Gauguin - I am talking of course, without having seen anything - all right, though the Picasso is of a period which is more in the line of Valentine, Pierre Matisse, etc., and I am perfectly satisfied to remain going as far as the 1917-23 period.

I think we have made such an effort along the abstract, without - I am sorry to say - and sort of success, that I am definitely for the time being against getting any more for our stock.

The Gauguin from your description, seems very beautiful, as well as some of the drawings, but as we say here I am probably "talking through my hat" as I haven't seen any of the paintings.

In spite of all our efforts the superb Matisse of Mrs. Gallery is still resting in its rack, as well as the splendid pure cubist of Picasso. It doesn't upset me as, as you know, I love this latter painting a lot, but I would have liked to see people scramble to buy it.

Mr. Chrysler's visit is no encouragement, as evidently he has sources of supply - as I fear others of the same type have - which allows them to buy at lower figures than we.